Moscow, East Ayrshire
| Moscow | |
|---|---|
 A small bridge near Moscow. | |
  Moscow Location within East Ayrshire | |
| Population | 141 (Census 2001) |
| Language | English |
| OS grid reference | NS487404 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Galston |
| Postcode district | KA4 |
| Dialling code | 01560 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Moscow is a hamlet in East Ayrshire in Scotland. It is on the A719 road some 4 miles (6 kilometres) east of Kilmarnock. In 2006 its population was reported as 118. It is represented in the "Galston West and Hurlford North" ward of East Ayrshire Council.
Name
The name is thought to be a corruption of "Moss-hall" or "Moss-haw" but its spelling was amended in 1812 to mark Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.[citation needed] The name may also be of Brittonic origin, and derived from the words maɣes, "field" and coll, "hazel" (Welsh maes-coll).[1] A stream called the Volga Burn flows through the village.[2] Locally the land and forest around Cowans Law to the north-west is referred to as 'Little Russia'.
The hamlet also shares the same latitude (
History
Walter Emery of the Kilmarnock Glenfield Ramblers had researched the names Moscow, Volga and Ruschaw in 1933. The
Shaw records that "a generation ago Russian prisoners of war were located between Galston and Fenwick, at a place called Moscow".[5]
In the Spring of 1884 a Mr. Rankin was found murdered in a gruesome fashion at his lonely cottage near Moscow. He was said to be well-to-do, however although no clues were found, theft was considered to be the motive; the guilty party was never brought to justice. Mr. McNabb, a retired police officer, related that in his opinion the murder was carried out by a somnambulist who was therefore unaware of the deed. He had never ventured this opinion officially for fear of being laughed out of the force.[6]
Micro-history
Recently (2008) a personal airstrip was established in a field near the village for light aircraft.
The village is referenced in the song "Hayfever" by
See also
- River Irvine - tributaries listed.
References
- Notes
- ^ James, Alan. "A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence" (PDF). SPNS - The Brittonic Language in the Old North. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ 55°37′56.5″N 4°24′15.4″W / 55.632361°N 4.404278°W
- ^ Wade, Mike (16 March 2022). "Moscow, Ayrshire is on Ukraine's side". The Times. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022.
- ^ Emery, Page 169.
- ^ Shaw, Page 166
- ^ Aitken, Pages 43-46
- ^ Trashcan Sinatras website, lyrics page| http://trashcansinatras.com/lyrics/ive-seen-everything-lyrics/
- Sources
- Aitken, John. The Humours of Ayrshire or Travels with a Bookstall. Kilmarnock : D. Brown & Co.
- Emery, Walter (1933), Armsheugh Glen and Templetonburn, 19 August 1933. Annals of the Kilmarnock Glenfield Ramblers Society. Jubilee Number. 1934.
- Shaw, James Edward (1953). Ayrshire 1745-1950. A Social and Industrial History. Edinburgh : Oliver & Boyd.
External links
- Local government website
- Map sources for Moscow, East Ayrshire
- [1]